Psychology News and Research

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Psychology is the study of human mental functions, behavior and processes.

Patient-physician compatibility affects adherence to doctor's orders, patient's health status: Study

Doctors and patients have varying opinions on how much control a person has over their own health outcomes. A new study by University of Iowa researchers suggests that when doctor and patient attitudes on the issue match up, patients do a better job of taking their medications.

22 Apr 2010

Valedictory Symposium to celebrate Professor David Taylor's contribution to Obstetrics and Gynaecology

Medical experts from across the UK are gathering at the University of Leicester on Friday 23rd April in a Valedictory Symposium to celebrate the work of Professor David Taylor.

19 Apr 2010

Experts to speak at international conference on autism

World renowned experts from Australia, the UK and the Ukraine are to speak at an international conference on autism, hosted at the University of Leicester by the organization jelibean.com, which provides help, advice and advocacy services to those on the autism spectrum, and those with AD/HD.

19 Apr 2010

First authoritative book on yawning

Yawning is a stereotyped phylogenetically ancient phenomenon that occurs in almost all vertebrates. As an emotional behavior and an expressive movement, yawning has many consequences; nevertheless, it has so far been poorly addressed in medical research and practice.

19 Apr 2010

Lack of health insurance to delay emergency treatment during heart attack: Study

Lack of health insurance and financial worries about the cost of care contributed to as much as a six-hour delay in seeking emergency care for a heart attack, according to a first-of-its kind study published April 14 in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

17 Apr 2010

Bedtime video-games have no significant effect on adolescents’ sleep patterns

A study in the April 15 issue of the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine suggests that playing a video game before bedtime has only a mild effect on the sleep of older male teens.

15 Apr 2010

Fathers of sexually abused children suffer from anxiety, grief and depression, says study

The preliminary results of a Universit- de Montr-al study show that fathers of sexually abused children can suffer from anxiety, depression and grief. Such patriarchs are often overwhelmed by a desire for vengeance, yet little literature exists to help them deal with their pain.

15 Apr 2010

MU researcher compiles evidence that supports Darwin's theory of sexual selection

In 1871, Charles Darwin sparked debate that continues today when he proposed that human sex differences evolved based on sexual selection. Sexual selection is Darwin's theory that certain physical, mental or psychological traits evolved because they aid in competition among individuals for access to preferred mates or because they are enhancements of traits that help to attract mates.

15 Apr 2010

BRAMS selected to provide DSP tools to investigate brain plasticity in humans

Sonomax Technologies Inc. has been selected by Montr-al's International Laboratory for Brain, Music and Sound Research to provide miniaturized, real-time, in-ear, digital signal processing devices to investigate experience-dependent brain plasticity in humans.

15 Apr 2010

MRI technology depicts women's anxiety of getting fat

A group of women in a new study seemed unlikely to have body image issues - at least their responses on a tried-and-true psychological screening presented no red flags.

15 Apr 2010

Happiness, well-being tied to the lives of others

Professor Jacqueline Scott led the study which compiled the views of more than 10,000 people over a time frame of five years at Cambridge University. The study which appears in a new book, Gender Inequalities in the 21st Century found that most people were linking their happiness with that of people close to them.

15 Apr 2010

Spare the rod – kids spanked more likely to be aggressive

As the saying goes, “spare the rod and spoil the child”. Many organizations including American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Psychological Association have found that this is a wrong statement and spanking a child may do more harm than good.

13 Apr 2010

Implicit association between death/ suicide and self may indicate suicide risk

Following the suicide of a relative or close friend, surviving family members and friends are left with a number of painful questions: "What made them do it?," "Why didn't they get help?" The most troublesome question is often, "Is there anything I could have done to prevent this?" People who are contemplating suicide tend to conceal their behavior, or deny they are having suicidal thoughts, so it can be difficult to identify warning signs.

13 Apr 2010

'Mindfulness' for reducing aggressive behaviour in people with developmental disabilities

A very ancient and effective practice - mindfulness - is being given a new and surprising application. For the first time ever, mindfulness is being used to reduce the likelihood of aggressive behaviour in people with developmental disabilities as well as mental health problems.

13 Apr 2010

Stress hormones may suppress tumor growth: Study

Chronic stress triggers a chain of molecular events that protects breakaway ovarian cancer cells from destruction, a team of researchers led by scientists at The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center reports April 12 in the early online publication of the Journal of Clinical Investigation.

13 Apr 2010

Obese children have stiffer arteries than leaner counterparts

Children with more body fat and less endurance than their fitter, leaner counterparts have stiffer arteries at a young age, Medical College of Georgia researchers said.

12 Apr 2010

Internet-based CBT as effective as group therapy for treating panic disorder

Cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) via the internet is just as effective in treating panic disorder (recurring panic attacks) as traditional group-based CBT. It is also efficacious in the treatment of mild and moderate depression. This according to a new doctoral thesis soon to be presented at the Swedish medical university Karolinska Institutet.

12 Apr 2010

Worsening suicidality thoughts while on antidepressants linked to specific changes in brain function

While antidepressant medications have proven to be beneficial in helping people overcome major depression, it has long been known that a small subset of individuals taking these drugs can actually experience a worsening of mood, and even thoughts of suicide. No clinical test currently exists to make this determination, and only time - usually weeks - can tell before a psychiatrist knows whether a patient is getting better or worse.

12 Apr 2010

Adherence to type 1 diabetes treatment lags if parents don't monitor

Teenagers and "tweenagers" with type 1 diabetes have more trouble sticking to their treatment plan - thus raising their risk of blindness, kidney failure and heart disease - if their parents become increasingly lax about monitoring the child's treatment, or if the mother-child relationship is poor.

8 Apr 2010

Transcendental Meditation may reduce symptoms of depression

The Transcendental Meditation- technique may be an effective approach to reduce symptoms of depression, according to two new studies to be presented at the 31st Annual Meeting of the Society of Behavioral Medicine in Seattle, Washington April 9th, 2010.

8 Apr 2010